The Ultimate Cannonball Run Quiz

You might be familiar with the movie "The Cannonball Run," but did you know there's a true story behind it? The first Cannonball Run took place in 1971 and was won by a Dodge van racing almost 3,000 miles cross-country. Take this quiz and learn more about the real Cannonball Run.

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Question 1 of 20

What was the name of the lead actor in the 1981 movie, "The Cannonball Run"?

Charles Bronson

Burt Reynolds

It was Burt Reynolds, with co-stars Roger Moore, Farrah Fawcett and Dom DeLuise.

Harrison Ford

Question 2 of 20

Most people thought that the movie was based on a _____ cross-country car race.

fictional

Many thought that it was based on a fictional race, although car racing enthusiasts knew that there was once a real Cannonball Run.

real

legal

Question 3 of 20

The real Cannonball Run was a car race between New York and California that took place four times. When?

1965, 1968, 1970 and 1974

1971, 1972, 1975 and 1979

The four-time car race took place in 1971, 1972, 1975 and 1979.

1973, 1974, 1976 and 1978

Question 4 of 20

Who won the first Cannonball Run in 1971?

Dave Heinz

Hal Needham

Brock Yates

Brock Yates, founder of the race, won the first one. He later wrote the script for the movie.

Question 5 of 20

Nowadays it would be virtually impossible to stage a race of this nature in the U.S. Why?

because cars aren't what they used to be

because people have lost interest

because of the speed limit and the heavy traffic

The low interstate speed limit and clogged roads make such a race virtually impossible.

Question 6 of 20

With the introduction of the then 55-mph speed limit on U.S. roads, what did Yates set out to prove?

that high-speed travel across the U.S. was possible

He set out in a Dodge van across country to prove that high-speed travel across the U.S. was possible.

that he had no regard for the law

that he could make Germany's Autobahn look like a lazy country road

Question 7 of 20

What is the speed limit on Germany's Autobahn?

70 miles per hour

there isn't any

There isn't any legal speed limit on the world's fastest road.

85 miles per hour

Question 8 of 20

In the first run, Yates and his team of three drove from New York to Los Angeles, a distance of 2,858 miles (4,599 km). How long did it take?

40 hours, 51 minutes

It took them 40 hours and 51 minutes.

41 hours, 22 minutes

43 hours, 49 minutes

Question 9 of 20

What was the race known as prior to its being called the Cannonball Run?

Cannonball Superspeed

Cannonball Bullet

Cannonball Dash

It was nicknamed Cannonball Dash, a shortened version of the rather lengthy "official" title, Cannonball Baker Sea-to-Shining Sea Memorial Trophy Dash.

Question 10 of 20

Who was the race originally named for?

racing car driver Erwin G. "Cannon Ball" Baker

It was named for race car driver Erwin G. "Cannon Ball" Baker, who made more than 140 drives across the States.

former senator Erwin G. "Cannon Ball" Baker

scriptwriter Erwin G. "Cannon Ball" Baker

Question 11 of 20

There were eight teams in the first Cannonball Run. As part of the rules, what did they have to pay money for?

$50 entry fee and $200 for charity

The rules required them to pay a $50 entry fee and another $200 for charity.

$50 entry fee only

$200 entry fee and $50 for charity

Question 12 of 20

In the first Cannonball Run, why did some drivers drive fairly tamely through certain states?

because they wanted to save the high speeds for the latter stage of the race

in order to give others a head start

because the states were notorious for highway patrolmen

Some states were notorious for highway patrolmen, in particular Connecticut, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Question 13 of 20

What was the unusual story behind the Cadillac Sedan de Ville that participated in the first race?

It belonged to an elderly man who needed to get it from New York to California.

It belonged to an elderly man who placed an ad in the paper for a driver to take it from New York to California, with the only stipulation that it be driven no faster than at 75 miles per hour (120 kph).

It was a vintage car.

It was the first-ever prototype Cadillac Sedan de Ville .

Question 14 of 20

Did anyone get a ticket for speeding in the first Cannonball Run?

Yes, four of the eight entrants.

Four of the eight entrants got speeding tickets, with a total of 12 tickets received.

No, they all got away with it.

Yes, one of the eight entrants.

Question 15 of 20

Who made this famous quote in the L.A. Times, "At no time did we exceed 175 mph"?

the driver who drove the Cadillac Sedan de Ville

Yates

Yates' co-driver Dan Gurney

This tongue-in cheek quote was made by Yates' co-driver Dan Gurney.

Question 16 of 20

Which publication brought the Cannonball Run to the fore of mainstream media with an article about the race?

the New York Times

Time Magazine

An article was published in Time Magazine after the third race in 1975.

the Wall Street Journal

Question 17 of 20

Which actor was the movie script written for?

Sammy Davis Jr.

Steve McQueen

It was originally written with actor Steve McQueen in mind, but he died before the film could be made.

Dean Martin

Question 18 of 20

When The Cannonball Run hit the silver screen in 1981, how did it fare?

It was received badly.

It received mixed reviews.

It ended up ranking the seventh highest grossing movie of 1981.

It raked in over $70 million and was the seventh highest grossing movie of 1981.

Question 19 of 20

Why was a fake ambulance used both in real life and in the movie?

in order to outsmart the traffic cops

They used a fake ambulance to pose as a husband taking his wife to the hospital so as to trick the traffic cops.